The 27-year-old, who has more than 12 million subscribers, tweeted in 2010, when she was 20: “I find it funny when gay men spit…it’s like they’re trying to be a bit macho but never works…”.

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And in 2011, writing to beauty YouTuber Tanya Burr, Zoella said: “are they honestly letting a tranny in a policeman hat speak to them like that? How odd! Haha x”.

The revelations came as a shock to supporters who have seen the star repeatedly speak out in favour of LGBT rights.

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And Gay Times editor Josh Rivers was sacked after it was discovered that he had tweeted offensive comments about transgender people, lesbians, women in general, Jews, Asians, Africans, the homeless, anyone he thought was “fat” or a “retard” – and old people.

Stormzy’s PR company has been contacted for comment, but had not responded at the time of publication.